Indoor unit

Abstract

To provide an indoor unit that can be installed in different postures while having a common housing.SOLUTION: An indoor unit of the present invention includes: a housing; an air blower installed in the housing; a heat exchanger installed inclinedly; and a drain pan installed below the heat exchanger. The inclination angles of the heat exchanger are changed when the housing is placed vertically and when the housing is placed laterally. The angle formed by the bottom face of the housing and the heat exchanger when the housing is placed laterally is larger than the angle formed by the bottom face and the heat exchanger when the housing is placed vertically.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an indoor unit.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a so-called duct type indoor unit. This indoor unit blows air into a duct connected to the air outlet of the housing, and blows the air into the room through the duct.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The present disclosure provides an indoor unit that can be installed in different orientations while sharing the housing.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The indoor unit in the present disclosure includes a housing, a blower provided in the housing, a heat exchanger provided obliquely, and a drain pan provided below the heat exchanger. When the housing is in a vertical position and when it is in a horizontal position, the inclination angle of the heat exchanger is changed, and the angle formed between the bottom surface of the housing and the heat exchanger when the housing is in the horizontal position is larger than the angle formed between the bottom surface and the heat exchanger when the housing is in the vertical position.

Effects of the Invention

[0006] The indoor unit in the present disclosure can be used by switching between a vertical position and a horizontal position by changing the inclination angle of the heat exchanger. Therefore, the indoor unit in the present disclosure can be installed in different orientations while sharing the housing.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007] [Figure 1] Perspective view of the indoor unit in a horizontally positioned state in Embodiment 1 [Figure 2] Side view of the indoor unit in a horizontal position, as seen from the first side. [Figure 3] Side view of the indoor unit in a horizontal position, viewed from the fifth side. [Figure 4] Perspective view of the electrical box in an indoor unit placed horizontally. [Figure 5] Cross-sectional view of the indoor unit in a horizontal position. [Figure 6] Exploded perspective view of the heat exchanger support section in a horizontally positioned indoor unit. [Figure 7] Cross-sectional view of an indoor unit used as a ducted indoor unit. [Figure 8] Exploded perspective view of an indoor unit used as a high-ceiling, one-way indoor unit. [Figure 9] Cross-sectional view of an indoor unit used as a high-ceiling, one-way indoor unit. [Figure 10] Cross-sectional view of an indoor unit used as a perimeter unit. [Figure 11] Perspective view of the heat exchanger support section in an indoor unit in a vertical orientation. [Figure 12] Exploded perspective view of the indoor unit used as a perimeter unit. [Figure 13] Perspective view of the fifth side of the indoor unit used as a perimeter. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] (Knowledge and other information that formed the basis of this disclosure) At the time the inventors conceived this disclosure, various indoor units with different installation methods, such as ducted indoor units and perimeter units, were known in the technology of indoor units for air conditioners. Therefore, in the industry, it was common practice to design products using different housings for indoor units with different installation methods, such as ducted indoor units and perimeter units. Under these circumstances, the inventors, noticing that using different molds and other components to manufacture housings for indoor units with different installation methods would lead to increased manufacturing costs, conceived the idea of ​​standardizing the housing among indoor units with different installation methods. The inventors then discovered that in order to realize this idea, there was a problem in that the preferred orientation of the heat exchanger differed depending on the orientation of the indoor unit, and in order to solve this problem, they came to constitute the subject matter of this disclosure. Therefore, this disclosure discloses an indoor unit that can be installed in different orientations while maintaining a common enclosure.

[0009] The embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, unnecessary details may be omitted. For example, detailed explanations of already well-known matters or redundant explanations of substantially identical configurations may be omitted. This is to avoid the following explanation becoming unnecessarily verbose and to facilitate understanding for those skilled in the art. The attached drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand this disclosure and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.

[0010] Embodiment 1 will be described below with reference to the drawings. [1-1. Structure] [1-1-1. Configuration of the indoor unit in a horizontal position] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the indoor unit 1 in a horizontal position. Figure 2 is a side view of the indoor unit 1 in a horizontal position, viewed from the side of the first surface 11. Figure 3 is a side view of the indoor unit 1 in a horizontal position, viewed from the side of the fifth surface 15. In each figure, the symbol UP indicates upward in the vertical direction.

[0011] As shown in Fig. 1, the indoor unit 1 is composed of sheet metal press-processed by a mold and has a housing 10 for storing various devices of the indoor unit 1 inside. The housing 10 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape with a first surface (front surface) 11, a second surface (rear surface) 12, a third surface 13, a fourth surface 14 (bottom surface), a fifth surface 15, and a sixth surface 16, each of which is substantially rectangular. The first surface 11 and the second surface 12 are substantially rectangular surfaces having sides of length L1 and length L3, and face each other. The third surface 13 and the fourth surface 14 are substantially rectangular surfaces having sides of length L1 and length L2, and face each other. The fifth surface (side surface) 15 and the sixth surface 16 are substantially rectangular surfaces having sides of length L2 and length L3, and face each other. As shown in Fig. 1, the length L1 is longer than the lengths L2 and L3, and the length L3 is shorter than the length L2.

[0012] As described above, the housing 10 of the indoor unit 1 shown in Fig. 1 is in a horizontally placed state. Hereinafter, the fact that the housing 10 of the indoor unit 1 is in a horizontally placed state will be simply described as the indoor unit 1 being in a horizontally placed state. In the horizontally placed state, among the surfaces of the housing 10 of the indoor unit 1, the third surface 13 and the fourth surface 14 are each arranged substantially horizontally, and the third surface 13 is arranged in a posture positioned above the fourth surface 14. That is, in the horizontally placed state, the vertical dimension of the indoor unit 1 is the shortest length L3 among the lengths L1 to L3. Thus, the horizontally placed indoor unit 1 is suitable for installation in a space with a small vertical extension such as above a ceiling. When the indoor unit 1 is used as a duct-type indoor unit or a high-ceiling one-way type indoor unit (ceiling-embedded indoor unit), the indoor unit 1 is installed in a horizontally placed state.

[0013] The first surface 11 has a first air outlet 11a and a first plate 11d. The first air outlet 11a is a substantially rectangular opening that communicates the outside and the inside of the housing 10. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a heat exchanger 40 and a heat exchanger support portion 60, which will be described later, are exposed from the first air outlet 11a. The indoor unit 1 performs air conditioning for the room by blowing out heated or cooled air from the first air outlet 11a. In the horizontal state, the first air outlet 11a communicates the inside and the outside of the housing 10 in the horizontal direction. That is, the horizontal state may be described as a state in which the indoor unit 1 blows out air horizontally from the housing 10 through the first air outlet 11a.

[0014] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, around the first air outlet 11a, a mounting frame 11b that protrudes outward from the first surface 11 is formed. The mounting frame 11b is configured by connecting a protruding portion 11e of a first plate 11d, a protruding portion 15b of a pipe support plate 15a, a protruding portion 13b of a third plate 13a, and a protruding portion 16b of a sixth plate 16a, which will be described later. A plurality of mounting holes 11c, which are holes for screwing, are formed in the mounting frame 11b. When the indoor unit 1 is used as a duct type indoor unit, a blowing duct (duct) D2 (see FIG. 7), which will be described later, is attached to the mounting frame 11b by screwing. Further, when the indoor unit 1 is used as a high ceiling one-way type indoor unit, a blowing chamber 90 (blowing member) (see FIG. 9), which will be described later, is attached to the mounting frame 11b.

[0015] The first plate 11d is a plate-like member that closes the side of the first surface 11 closer to the fourth surface 14 than the first air outlet 11a. The first plate 11d has a protruding portion 11e that protrudes in the air blowing direction along the first air outlet 11a. A plurality of mounting holes 11c are formed in the protruding portion 11e.

[0016] A third plate 13a is disposed on the third surface 13. The third plate 13a is a plate-like member that covers the entire third surface 13 and has a protruding portion 13b. The protruding portion 13b is a portion of the third plate 13a that protrudes in the air blowing direction more than the first surface 11 and has a plurality of mounting holes 11c.

[0017] A sixth plate 16a is placed on the sixth surface 16. The sixth plate 16a is a plate-shaped member that covers almost the entire surface of the sixth surface 16 and is fixed to the first plate 11d and the third plate 13a by screws. The sixth plate 16a has a protrusion 16b. The protrusion 16b is a part that protrudes from the sixth plate 16a toward the first surface 11 and has a plurality of mounting holes 11c. The protrusion 16b is fixed to the protrusion 11e of the first plate 11d and the protrusion 13b of the third plate 13a by screws and becomes part of the mounting frame 11b. In addition, a bracket 19 for fixing the indoor unit 1 is attached to the sixth surface 16.

[0018] Figure 3 is a side view of the indoor unit 1 in a horizontal position, viewed from the side of the fifth surface 15. On the fifth surface 15, a pipe support plate 15a and an electrical box cover 15c are arranged. The pipe support plate 15a is a plate-shaped member located on the side of the fifth surface 15 that faces the first surface 11, and is fixed to the first plate 11d and the third plate 13a by screws. In addition, a bracket 19 for fixing the indoor unit 1 is attached to the fifth surface 15.

[0019] The piping support plate 15a is a plate-shaped member whose end on the second surface 12 side is folded into the interior of the housing 10, and has an opening 15d. The opening 15d is open to the fourth surface 14 side and has grooves 15e and 15f formed on the second surface 12 side, respectively. From groove 15e, a gas pipe connection part 41, which is connected to a gas pipe (not shown) through which gaseous refrigerant flows, extends to the outside of the housing 10. From groove 15f, a liquid pipe connection part 43, which is connected to a liquid pipe (not shown) through which liquid refrigerant flows, extends to the outside of the housing 10. The piping support plate 15a also has a projection 15b that protrudes to the first surface 11 side. The projection 15b is screwed to the projection 11e of the first plate 11d and the projection 13b of the third plate 13a, and becomes part of the mounting frame 11b. Furthermore, the end of the pipe support plate 15a on the second surface 12 side is bent parallel to the second surface 12 toward the inside of the housing 10 and is screwed to the folded portion 53d of the electrical box support plate 53, which will be described later.

[0020] The opening 15d is closed by a plate-shaped cover member 17 that is screwed to the pipe support plate 15a. The cover member 17 has three notches 17a, 17b, and 17c. Notch 17a opens to the fourth surface 14 side of the cover member 17. A drain port 35, which is connected to a drain hose (not shown) for draining drain water, extends from notch 17a to the outside of the housing 10. Notch 17b supports the gas pipe connection part 41 between it and groove 15e. Notch 17c supports the liquid pipe connection part 43 between it and notch 15f.

[0021] In the horizontally positioned indoor unit 1, a drain pump (not shown) is attached to the cover member 17. When the drain pump is driven, the drain water collected in the drain pan 30 (see Figure 5), which will be described later, is drained to the outside of the indoor unit 1 through the drain port 35.

[0022] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the electrical box 50. The electrical box cover 15c is a plate-like member bent into an L-shape, and covers a portion of the fifth surface 15 and the fourth surface 14. The electrical box cover 15c is also the lid of the electrical box 50. The electrical box 50 is a box that houses a circuit board 51 for power supply and control of various devices of the indoor unit 1. The electrical box 50 has an electrical box support plate 53 positioned on the fifth surface 15 and bent into a roughly U-shape. The electrical box support plate 53 has a support portion 53b along the fifth surface 15, a folded portion 53c bent along the second surface 12, and a folded portion 53d that bends perpendicularly from the support portion 53b and is fixed to the piping support plate 15a. The circuit board 51 is fixed to the support portion 53b of the electrical box support plate 53 by screws. Furthermore, the circuit board 51 is placed and protected within a space enclosed by the third plate 13a, the electrical box cover 15c, and the electrical box support plate 53. The electrical box support plate 53 is fixed to the piping support plate 15a and the third plate 13a by screws.

[0023] Figure 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the indoor unit 1. The second surface 12 has a first intake port 12a that opens in a roughly rectangular shape over almost the entire surface 12. When the indoor unit 1 is used as a ducted indoor unit, the intake duct (duct) D1, described later, is connected to the first intake port 12a (see Figure 7). Also, as will be described later, when the indoor unit 1 is used as a high-ceiling unidirectional indoor unit, a closing plate 18 that closes the first intake port 12a is attached to the second surface 12.

[0024] The fourth surface 14 has a heat exchanger side plate 14a and a second intake port 14c. The heat exchanger side plate 14a is a plate-shaped member that covers the side of the fourth surface 14 that faces the first surface 11. The second intake port 14c is an opening that is approximately the same shape as the first intake port 12a. When the indoor unit 1 is used as a high-ceiling unidirectional indoor unit, the second intake port 14c is positioned to overlap vertically with the panel intake port P1 of the decorative panel P, which will be described later (see Figure 9). Also, as will be described later, when the indoor unit 1 is used as a duct-type indoor unit, a closing plate 18 that closes the second intake port 14c is attached to the fourth surface 14.

[0025] As shown in Figure 5, a blower 20, a drain pan 30, and a heat exchanger 40 are arranged inside the housing 10. The inside of the housing 10 is divided into two spaces, a blower room 10a and a heat exchanger room 10b, by a partition plate 10c parallel to the first surface 11 and the second surface 12. The blower room 10a is the space located on the side of the second surface 12 of the space inside the housing 10 that is divided into two by the partition plate 10c. The blower 20 is arranged in the blower room 10a. The heat exchanger room 10b is the space located on the side of the first surface 11 of the space inside the housing 10 that is divided into two by the partition plate 10c. The heat exchanger 40 and the drain pan 30 are arranged in the heat exchanger room 10b.

[0026] The blower 20 is a sirocco fan and has an impeller 21 connected to the output shaft of a motor (not shown) and a casing 23 that covers the impeller 21. The blower 20 rotates the impeller 21 by driving the motor, drawing air from outside the housing 10 into the casing 23 through the first intake port 12a or the second intake port 14c and the space inside the housing 10. The air drawn into the casing 23 is discharged from a discharge port 23a located in the heat exchanger chamber 10b and opening toward the first outlet port 11a. As a result, the blower 20 blows air toward the first outlet port 11a in a substantially horizontal direction.

[0027] The drain pan 30 receives the condensate water generated in the heat exchanger 40. The condensate water collected in the drain pan 30 is drained to the outside of the housing 10 through the drain port 35 shown in Figure 3 by a drain pump (not shown).

[0028] In the horizontally positioned indoor unit 1, the drain pan 30 is located on the fourth surface 14 side of the heat exchanger chamber 10b, that is, below the heat exchanger 40. Furthermore, as described above, in the horizontally positioned indoor unit 1, the blower 20 blows air in a substantially horizontal direction, so even if the dimensions of the drain pan 30 in the horizontal direction are increased, it is less likely to obstruct the airflow by the blower 20. For this reason, in the horizontal position, the dimensions of the drain pan 30 are set to be larger than in the vertical position described later, in order to make it easier for the drain water generated in the heat exchanger 40 to be collected by the drain pan 30. Specifically, the drain pan 30 is provided over an area that includes substantially the entire heat exchanger 40 in a plan view. As a result, in the horizontal position, the drain water can be easily collected by the drain pan 30 regardless of where the drain water drips from the heat exchanger 40.

[0029] The heat exchanger 40 is a fin-tube type heat exchanger installed between the discharge port 23a and the first outlet 11a of the blower 20. The heat exchanger 40 has a number of tubes extending parallel to the first surface 11, second surface 12, third surface 13, and fourth surface 14, and a number of fins parallel to the fifth surface 15 and sixth surface 16. The tubes of the heat exchanger 40 are in communication with a gas pipe connection part 41 and a liquid pipe connection part 43, and refrigerant from the outside flows through the gas pipe connection part 41 and the liquid pipe connection part 43. The heat exchanger 40 exchanges heat between the refrigerant flowing through the number of tubes and the air discharged from the blower 20 and flowing between the number of fins. As a result, the air passing through the heat exchanger 40 is heated or cooled before being blown out from the first outlet 11a.

[0030] As shown in Figure 5, in the horizontally positioned indoor unit 1, the heat exchanger 40 is installed at an inclination with respect to the third surface 13 and the fourth surface 14. More specifically, in the horizontally positioned indoor unit 1, the angle formed by the longitudinal direction DL of the heat exchanger 40 in a side view from the fifth surface 15 and the third surface 13 and the fourth surface 14 is angle A1. When the indoor unit 1 is horizontally positioned, if the heat exchanger 40 is too close to the first air outlet 11a, drain water adhering to the heat exchanger 40 may be scattered to the outside from the first air outlet 11a. For this reason, if the dimensions of the housing 10 are not increased, it is preferable to increase the angle A1 and reduce the area occupied by the heat exchanger 40 in the direction of airflow. In this embodiment, the angle A1 is 45 degrees.

[0031] Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the heat exchanger support section 60. The heat exchanger 40 is fixed to the housing 10 by the heat exchanger support section 60. The heat exchanger support section 60 has a base plate (first member) 70 which is fixed to the housing 10 by screws, and a heat exchanger support plate (second member) 80 which fixes the base plate 70 and the heat exchanger 40.

[0032] The base plate 70 is a roughly rectangular plate-shaped member and has a first fixing part 71, a second fixing part 73, and a third fixing part 75, which are fixed to the housing 10, and a support plate fixing part 77, which is fixed to the heat exchanger support plate 80. The first fixing part 71 is fixed to the first plate 11d by screws. The second fixing part 73 is a plate-shaped portion bent parallel to the third surface 13 and is fixed to the third plate 13a by screws. The third fixing part 75 is fixed to the pipe support plate 15a by screws. By fixing the first fixing part 71, the second fixing part 73, and the third fixing part 75 to the respective parts of the housing 10, the base plate 70 is fixed to the housing 10 in a position that is roughly parallel to the first surface 11 and the second surface 12. The support plate fixing portion 77 has a substantially rectangular opening 77a and a folded portion 77b that is bent substantially parallel to the fifth surface 15 and the sixth surface 16.

[0033] The heat exchanger support plate 80 is a plate-like member with a roughly right-angled triangular shape, and has a base plate fixing portion 81 that is fixed to the base plate 70, a folded portion 83 that is roughly parallel to the third surface 13 and the fourth surface 14, and a heat exchanger fixing portion 85 that is fixed to the end portion 45 of the heat exchanger 40.

[0034] The base plate fixing portion 81 is a portion bent approximately parallel to the first surface 11 and the second surface 12, and has a projection 81a. The projection 81a is a portion of the base plate fixing portion 81 bent approximately parallel to the fifth surface 15 and the sixth surface 16, toward the second surface 12. The projection 81a is inserted into an opening 77a formed in the support plate fixing portion 77 of the base plate 70. The insertion of the projection 81a into the opening 77a makes it easier to position the support plate fixing portion 77 and the base plate fixing portion 81 when fastening them with screws. The folded portion 83 is a portion bent approximately parallel to the third surface 13 and the fourth surface 14, and is in contact with the drain pan 30.

[0035] The heat exchanger fixing portion 85 is the part of the heat exchanger support plate 80 corresponding to the hypotenuse of a right triangle, and has three heat exchanger fixing holes 85a. The three heat exchanger fixing holes 85a are holes into which screws are fastened to three holes 45a formed in the end portion 45 of the heat exchanger 40. The three holes 45a of the heat exchanger 40 are formed in a straight line along the longitudinal direction DL of the heat exchanger 40 when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the fifth surface 15. Furthermore, the three heat exchanger fixing holes 85a are formed in a straight line inclined by an angle A1 with respect to the folded portion 83 when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the fifth surface 15. Therefore, when the heat exchanger 40 is fixed to the heat exchanger fixing portion 85, the longitudinal direction DL is inclined by an angle A1 with respect to the third surface 13 and the fourth surface 14 when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the fifth surface 15.

[0036] [1-1-2. Configuration of the indoor unit when used as a ducted indoor unit] Figure 7 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the indoor unit 1 when used as a ducted indoor unit. When used as a ducted indoor unit, indoor unit 1 is positioned horizontally. When used as a ducted indoor unit, indoor unit 1 is fitted with an intake duct D1 and an outlet duct D2.

[0037] The intake duct D1 is a hollow duct extending approximately horizontally and is connected to the first intake port 12a. The intake duct D1 communicates with the indoor space through a vent (not shown) and draws indoor air in through the vent. The discharge duct D2 is a hollow duct extending approximately horizontally and is connected to the first discharge port 11a by being screwed into the mounting hole 11c of the mounting frame 11b. The discharge duct D2 communicates with the indoor space through a vent (not shown) and blows the air discharged from the indoor unit 1 into the indoor space through the vent.

[0038] As shown in Figure 7, in the indoor unit 1 used as a duct-type indoor unit, the second intake port 14c on the fourth surface 14 is closed by a closing plate 18. As a result, the indoor unit 1, driven by the blower 20, draws air from the intake duct D1 through the first intake port 12a on the second surface 12 and blows the air out into the discharge duct D2 through the first outlet port 11a on the first surface 11, which is opposite the second surface 12.

[0039] [1-1-3. Configuration of an indoor unit used as a high-ceiling unidirectional indoor unit] Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of indoor unit 1 used as a high-ceiling unidirectional indoor unit. Figure 9 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of indoor unit 1 used as a high-ceiling unidirectional indoor unit. In Figure 9, the airflow due to the operation of the blower 20 is indicated by arrows. When the indoor unit 1 is used as a high-ceiling unidirectional indoor unit, it is placed horizontally. When the indoor unit 1 is used as a high-ceiling unidirectional indoor unit, a discharge chamber 90 and a decorative panel P are attached to it. Also, as shown in Figure 8, a drain pump support plate 36 that supports the drain pump is attached to the fifth surface 15 of the indoor unit 1 when it is used as a high-ceiling unidirectional indoor unit. When the indoor unit 1 is used as a high-ceiling unidirectional indoor unit, it drains water from the second drain port 37 formed in the drain pump support plate 36.

[0040] The discharge chamber 90 is a hollow, roughly rectangular parallelepiped-shaped member with two adjacent surfaces that are almost entirely open, and is located above the ceiling. Insulation material is provided on the inner surface of the discharge chamber 90. The discharge chamber 90 has a connection port 91 and a second discharge port 93. The connection port 91 is a roughly rectangular opening formed over almost the entire surface of one of the surfaces of the discharge chamber 90. The connection port 91 is attached to a mounting frame 11b located on the first surface 11 of the housing 10 by screwing it into a mounting hole 11c. With the connection port 91 attached to the mounting frame 11b, air blown out from the first discharge port 11a flows into the inside of the discharge chamber 90. The second discharge port 93 is an opening formed over almost the entire surface of the surface of the discharge chamber 90 adjacent to the surface on which the connection port 91 is located. When the connection port 91 is attached to the mounting frame 11b, the second discharge port 93 is almost flush with the fourth surface 14 of the housing 10 and opens downwards. Therefore, the air blown out from the first outlet 11a in a nearly horizontal direction flows into the discharge chamber 90 via the connection port 91, then changes direction downwards and is blown out from the second outlet 93.

[0041] An opening adjustment member 95 is attached to the discharge chamber 90, which closes a portion of the connection port 91 and the second discharge port 93. The opening adjustment member 95 is a roughly rectangular parallelepiped made of sheet metal. The opening adjustment member 95 is positioned at the corner where the connection port 91 and the second discharge port 93 intersect, and occupies the space below the protrusion 11e of the first plate 11d in the connection port 91. The opening adjustment member 95 also closes a portion of the second discharge port 93 on the side closer to the connection port 91. As a result, an L-shaped space S is formed between the discharge chamber 90 and the opening adjustment member 95, which is open at the connection port 91 and the second discharge port 93, allowing air to flow. Furthermore, the size of the cross-sectional area of ​​the space S in a cross section perpendicular to the airflow is set to be less than or equal to the size of the area of ​​the first discharge port 11a. Therefore, the opening adjustment member 95 can increase the flow velocity of the air discharged from the second discharge port 93 of the discharge chamber 90.

[0042] The upper surface 95a of the opening adjustment member 95 is positioned at approximately the same height as the upper end of the drain pan 30 and the lower end of the first outlet 11a. Therefore, the air that has flowed over the upper end of the drain pan 30 and the lower end of the first outlet 11a can flow along the upper surface 95a with minimal pressure loss.

[0043] Furthermore, the opening adjustment member 95 has a discharge surface 95c that rises upward from the second outlet 93. The discharge surface 95c is the surface that connects the upper surface 95a and the second outlet 93. In the opening adjustment member 95, the corner at the upper end of the discharge surface 95c, that is, the corner portion 95b between the discharge surface 95c and the upper surface 95a, is rounded. In other words, the corner portion 95b is what is known as having a radius. The corner portion 95b is located at the inner corner of the L-shape formed by the space S, and the air that flows along the upper surface 95a changes direction of flow downward along the corner portion 95b. Therefore, the formation of a radius at the corner portion 95b makes it less likely for the air that has flowed along the upper surface 95a to separate at the corner portion 95b. Consequently, the radius formed at the corner portion 95b makes it less likely for the air flowing through the space S to be turbulent, and the airflow is straightened.

[0044] The decorative panel P is a panel exposed on the underside of the ceiling and is positioned below the indoor unit 1 and the discharge chamber 90. The decorative panel P has a panel intake port P1 and a panel outlet port P2. The panel intake port P1 is located directly below the second intake port 14c and has an opening that penetrates the decorative panel P vertically and a grid provided on the entire surface of the opening. When the blower 20 is driven, indoor air is drawn into the interior of the housing 10 through the panel intake port P1 and the second intake port 14c.

[0045] The panel outlet P2 is located below the second outlet 93 and has an opening that penetrates the decorative panel P vertically, and a plate-shaped flap whose angle is changed by a motor (not shown). The air discharged from the blower 20 passes through the second outlet 93 and is then sent into the room via the panel outlet P2.

[0046] [1-1-4. Configuration of indoor units used as perimeter units] Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of the indoor unit 1 used as a perimeter. The airflow when the blower 20 is driven is indicated by arrows in Figure 10. When the indoor unit 1 is used as a perimeter unit, the housing 10 of the indoor unit 1 is oriented vertically. Hereafter, the vertical orientation of the housing 10 of the indoor unit 1 will simply be described as the indoor unit 1 being oriented vertically. Even in the vertical orientation of the indoor unit 1, the housing 10 described above for the horizontal orientation is used almost as is. Therefore, the configuration of the indoor unit 1 in the vertical orientation is generally the same as that of the indoor unit 1 in the horizontal orientation. Below, the differences between the vertical and horizontal orientations will be explained, and commonalities will be denoted by the same reference numeral and their explanation will be omitted.

[0047] In the vertically positioned indoor unit 1, the first surface 11 and the second surface 12 of the housing 10 are positioned approximately horizontally, with the first surface 11 positioned above the second surface 12. In other words, in the vertically positioned state, the shortest side L3 of the indoor unit 1 is aligned horizontally, and the dimensions of the indoor unit 1 in plan view are reduced. Thus, the vertically positioned indoor unit 1 is suitable for applications such as perimeters where it is placed and used indoors.

[0048] As shown in Figure 10, in the vertically positioned indoor unit 1, the outlet 23a of the blower 20 opens upward, and the blower 20 discharges air upward. In the vertically positioned indoor unit 1, the air discharged from the blower 20 passes through the heat exchanger 40 and is then blown into the room from the first air outlet 11a which opens upward. In the vertically positioned indoor unit 1, the second intake port 14c is closed by the closing plate 18. In the vertically positioned indoor unit 1, air is drawn into the interior of the housing 10 through the first intake port 12a on the second surface 12.

[0049] As described above, in the vertically mounted indoor unit 1, the airflow passing through the heat exchanger 40 is oriented vertically. Therefore, if a drain pan 30 (see Figure 5) is provided in an area that includes substantially the entire heat exchanger 40 in a plan view, as in the horizontally mounted unit, the airflow from the blower 20 will be blocked by the drain pan 30. For this reason, in the vertically mounted unit, a drain pan 130 with a different shape from the drain pan 30 in the horizontally mounted unit is positioned below the heat exchanger 40. In the vertically mounted indoor unit 1, the drain pan 130 is provided at approximately the same height as the discharge port 23a of the blower 20. In a plan view, the drain pan 130 overlaps the lower part 40a of the heat exchanger 40, but does not overlap the upper part 40b of the heat exchanger 40.

[0050] Thus, the drain pan 130 can receive drain water dripping from the lower part 40a of the heat exchanger 40, but it cannot receive drain water dripping directly from the upper part 40b of the heat exchanger 40. For this reason, in the vertically positioned indoor unit 1, the heat exchanger 40 is positioned at an angle that makes it difficult for drain water to drip directly from the upper part 40b. Specifically, as shown in Figure 10, in a side view from the fifth surface 15, the angle A2 formed by the longitudinal direction DL of the heat exchanger 40 and the third surface 13 and the fourth surface 14 is set to be smaller than angle A1 (see Figure 5). If angle A2 is small, the longitudinal direction DL of the heat exchanger 40 approaches the vertical direction, and the drain water generated at the upper part 40b of the heat exchanger 40 can easily flow down the heat exchanger 40 to the lower part 40a without dripping directly. For this reason, it is desirable for angle A2 to be small. In this embodiment, angle A2 is 40 degrees. In other words, in a side view from the fifth surface 15, the heat exchanger 40 is positioned such that its longitudinal direction DL is 50 degrees upward from the horizontal.

[0051] Figure 11 is an exploded perspective view of the heat exchanger support section 60 in the vertically mounted indoor unit 1. In the vertically mounted indoor unit 1, the heat exchanger 40 is fixed to the housing 10 by the heat exchanger support section 160. The heat exchanger support section 160 has a base plate 70 and a heat exchanger support plate 180 that fixes the base plate 70 and the heat exchanger 40. The base plate 70 is the same as the one used in the horizontally mounted indoor unit 1 (see Figure 6).

[0052] The heat exchanger support plate 180 is a plate-shaped member with substantially the same shape as the heat exchanger support plate 80 used when the indoor unit 1 was placed horizontally. Similar to the heat exchanger support plate 80, the heat exchanger support plate 180 has a base plate fixing portion 81 fixed to the base plate 70, a folded portion 83 substantially parallel to the third surface 13 and the fourth surface 14, and a heat exchanger fixing portion 185 fixed to the end portion 45 of the heat exchanger 40.

[0053] However, the heat exchanger fixing portion 185 of the heat exchanger support plate 180 is at a different angle from the heat exchanger fixing portion 85 of the heat exchanger support plate 80. That is, the heat exchanger fixing portion 185 has three heat exchanger fixing holes 185a that are arranged in a straight line inclined by an angle A2 with respect to the folded portion 83 when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the fifth surface 15. As a result, the three heat exchanger fixing holes 185a and the holes 45a of the end portion 45 of the heat exchanger 40 are fastened with screws, so that the heat exchanger 40 is in a position where its longitudinal direction DL is inclined by an angle A2 with respect to the third surface 13 and the fourth surface 14 when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the fifth surface 15.

[0054] In this way, the orientation of the heat exchanger 40 relative to the third surface 13 can be changed and positioned by replacing the heat exchanger support plate 80 with the heat exchanger support plate 180 without replacing the base plate 70.

[0055] Figure 12 is an exploded perspective view of the indoor unit 1 used as a perimeter unit. Figure 13 is a perspective view of the fifth surface of the indoor unit 1 used as a perimeter unit. As shown in Figures 12 and 13, in the indoor unit 1 used as a perimeter unit, a leg member M is attached to the second surface 12 of the housing 10. The leg member M is a member that is bent into a roughly U-shape in plan view and has three surfaces that follow the third surface 13, the fifth surface 15, and the sixth surface 16 of the housing 10, respectively. The leg member M is installed so that the edges of the three surfaces are in contact with the floor of the room. In addition, a leg intake port M1 that is open in the horizontal direction is formed on the leg member M. The leg intake port M1 is an opening that connects the first intake port 12a on the second surface 12 to the space inside the room and is formed along the fourth surface 14.

[0056] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 12 and 13, in the vertically mounted indoor unit 1, the circuit board 51 (see Figure 4) for power supply and control of the various devices of the indoor unit 1 is housed in an external electrical box 150, rather than in the electrical box support plate 53. As mentioned above, in the vertically mounted state, the height of the drain pan 130 is approximately the same as the height of the discharge port 23a of the blower 20. Also, when the indoor unit 1 is in the vertically mounted state, a portion of the electrical box support plate 53 is located below the drain pan 130. Therefore, by housing the circuit board 51 in an external electrical box 150, the circuit board 51 can be protected even if drain water drips from the drain pan 130.

[0057] As shown in Figure 13, in the vertical orientation, the electrical box support plate 53 has a notch 53a that opens toward the fourth surface 14. Through the notch 53a, a drain port 135 is exposed, which is connected to a drain hose (not shown) for draining water from the drain pan 130. Because the notch 53a opens toward the fourth surface 14, the drain pan 130 can be moved in and out of the housing 10 via the fourth surface 14 when the heat exchanger side plate 14a is removed.

[0058] [1-2. Operation] The operation of indoor unit 1 according to the installation method will be explained below. [1-2-1. Operation of the indoor unit when used as a ducted indoor unit] As shown in Figure 7, when the indoor unit 1, installed as a duct-type indoor unit, performs air conditioning operation, the blower 20 is driven while refrigerant from the external refrigerant piping flows into the heat exchanger 40. As a result, indoor air flows into the housing 10 through a vent (not shown) opening into the room, an intake duct D1, and a first intake port 12a. The blower 20 then causes the indoor air that has flowed into the housing 10 to flow into the discharge duct D2 via the discharge port 23a, the heat exchanger 40, and the first discharge port 11a. At this time, the air passing through the heat exchanger 40 exchanges heat with the refrigerant flowing inside the heat exchanger 40, and is cooled or heated. The air that has flowed into the discharge duct D2 is sent into the room through a vent (not shown) connecting the discharge duct D2 to the room. In this way, the indoor unit 1 performs air conditioning in the room.

[0059] During cooling operation of the indoor unit 1, condensate water is generated in the heat exchanger 40 as air passes through it. The condensate water generated in the heat exchanger 40 is collected by a drain pan 30 located below the heat exchanger 40. The drain pan 30 is provided over an area that includes almost the entire heat exchanger 40 in a plan view. Therefore, the drain pan 30 can collect almost all of the condensate water generated in the heat exchanger 40. The condensate water collected by the drain pan 30 is drained to an external drain hose via a drain port 35.

[0060] [1-2-2. Operation of the indoor unit when used as a high-ceiling, one-way indoor unit] As shown in Figure 9, when the indoor unit 1, installed as a high-ceiling unidirectional indoor unit, performs air conditioning operation, the blower 20 is driven while refrigerant from the external refrigerant piping flows into the heat exchanger 40. As a result, indoor air flows into the housing 10 through the panel intake port P1 and the second intake port 14c of the decorative panel P that is exposed to the room. The blower 20 then causes the indoor air that has flowed into the housing 10 to flow into the discharge chamber 90 via the discharge port 23a, the heat exchanger 40, and the first outlet port 11a. At this time, the air passing through the heat exchanger 40 exchanges heat with the refrigerant flowing inside the heat exchanger 40, and is cooled or heated. The air that has flowed into the discharge chamber 90 flows through the L-shaped space S between the discharge chamber 90 and the opening adjustment member 95, and flows to the second outlet port 93 which opens downwards. The upper surface 95a of the opening adjustment member 95 is positioned at approximately the same height as the upper end of the drain pan 30 and the lower end of the first air outlet 11a, thereby reducing the pressure loss of the air flowing through the space S. Furthermore, since the corners 95b of the opening adjustment member 95 are rounded, the air flowing through the space S flows to the second air outlet 93 in a rectified state. The air that has passed through the second air outlet 93 is sent into the room through the panel air outlet P2 of the decorative panel P that is exposed to the room. In this way, the indoor unit 1 provides air conditioning to the room.

[0061] Indoor unit 1, installed as a high-ceiling unidirectional indoor unit, has a drain pan 30 that extends over an area encompassing substantially the entire heat exchanger 40 in a plan view, similar to indoor unit 1 used as a duct-type indoor unit. Therefore, almost all of the condensate water generated in the heat exchanger 40 is collected by the drain pan 30 and drained to an external drain hose via the second drain port 37 shown in Figure 8.

[0062] [1-2-3. Operation of the indoor unit when used as a perimeter unit] As shown in Figure 10, when the indoor unit 1, installed as a perimeter unit, performs air conditioning operation, the blower 20 is driven while refrigerant from the external refrigerant piping flows into the heat exchanger 40. As a result, indoor air flows into the housing 10 through the leg intake port M1 and the first intake port 12a of the leg member M. The blower 20 then blows the indoor air that has flowed into the housing 10 back into the room through the discharge port 23a, the heat exchanger 40, and the first outlet port 11a. At this time, the air passing through the heat exchanger 40 exchanges heat with the refrigerant flowing inside the heat exchanger 40, and is cooled or heated. In this way, the indoor unit 1 provides air conditioning to the room.

[0063] The vertically positioned indoor unit 1, installed as a perimeter unit, has a drain pan 130 that overlaps the lower part 40a of the heat exchanger 40 in a plan view, but does not overlap the upper part 40b. In the vertically positioned indoor unit 1, the longitudinal direction DL of the heat exchanger 40, as viewed from the fifth surface 15, is tilted at an angle A2 with respect to the fourth surface 14 which is aligned vertically. Since angle A2 is set to a sufficiently small angle, the condensate water generated at the upper part 40b of the heat exchanger 40 flows down the surface of the heat exchanger 40 by gravity to the lower part 40a. The condensate water that flows to the lower part 40a drips down by gravity and is collected by the drain pan 130, which overlaps the lower part 40a in a plan view. The condensate water collected by the drain pan 130 is drained through a drain port 135 exposed from a notch 53a formed in the electrical box support plate 53 and into an external drain hose.

[0064] [1-3. Effects, etc.] As described above, in this embodiment, the indoor unit 1 comprises a housing 10, a blower 20 provided inside the housing 10, a heat exchanger 40 provided at an angle, and drain pans 30 and 130 provided below the heat exchanger 40. The angle of inclination of the heat exchanger 40 is changed depending on whether the housing 10 is placed vertically or horizontally. The angle A1 between the fourth surface 14 of the housing 10 and the heat exchanger 40 when the housing 10 is placed horizontally is greater than the angle A2 between the fourth surface 14 and the heat exchanger 40 when the housing 10 is placed vertically. As a result, when the housing 10 is placed horizontally, the heat exchanger 40 is angled upward from the fourth surface aligned horizontally, allowing the heat exchanger 40 to be compactly arranged within the housing 10 without increasing its dimensions. Furthermore, when the housing 10 is placed vertically, the heat exchanger 40 is angled close to the fourth surface aligned vertically, allowing the condensate water generated in the heat exchanger 40 to flow easily to the bottom of the heat exchanger 40 without dripping along the way. Therefore, the indoor unit 1 functions without problems whether the housing 10 is placed vertically or horizontally. Consequently, the housing 10 can be standardized between vertical and horizontal placement.

[0065] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the indoor unit 1 is equipped with heat exchanger support sections 60 and 160 that support the heat exchanger 40. The heat exchanger support sections 60 and 160 each have a base plate 70 attached to the housing 10 and heat exchanger support plates 80 and 180 attached to the base plate 70. The base plate 70 is shared between when the housing 10 is in a vertical position and when it is in a horizontal position, while the heat exchanger support plates 80 and 180 are changed. This allows the tilt angle of the heat exchanger 40 to be changed simply by replacing the heat exchanger support plates 80 and 180, without having to replace the base plate 70. Therefore, the base plate 70 can be standardized in addition to the housing 10 between vertical and horizontal orientations.

[0066] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the housing 10 supports the circuit board 51 when the housing 10 is in a horizontal position and has an electrical box support plate 53 located on the fifth surface 15 adjacent to the fourth surface 14, and the drain pan 130 drains water through a notch 53a formed in the electrical box support plate 53 that opens toward the fourth surface 14 when the housing 10 is in a vertical position. This allows drainage from the drain pan 130 in the housing 10 when it is in a vertical position through the notch 53a provided in the electrical box support plate 53 that supports the circuit board 51 when it is in a horizontal position. Therefore, the electrical box support plate 53 can be reused. In addition, since the notch 53a opens toward the fourth surface 14, it becomes easier to insert and remove the drain pan 130 into and out of the housing 10 via the fourth surface 14.

[0067] (Other embodiments) As described above, Embodiment 1 has been explained as an example of the technology disclosed in this application. However, the technology in this disclosure is not limited to this and can be applied to embodiments that have been modified, replaced, added, or omitted. Furthermore, it is possible to create new embodiments by combining the components described in Embodiment 1 above. Therefore, other embodiments are illustrated below.

[0068] In Embodiment 1, it was explained that the vertically positioned indoor unit 1 is suitable for use as a perimeter unit placed inside a room, but this is just one example. The vertically positioned indoor unit 1 may also be used embedded in the wall of a building, rather than inside a room.

[0069] In Embodiment 1, it was explained that the horizontally positioned indoor unit 1 is used as a duct-type indoor unit and a high-ceiling unidirectional indoor unit, but this is just one example. For example, the horizontally positioned indoor unit 1 may be placed in the indoor space below the ceiling, rather than in the space above the ceiling.

[0070] In Embodiment 1, it was explained that in the indoor unit 1 used as a high-ceiling unidirectional indoor unit, the corners 95b of the opening adjustment member 95 are rounded, but this is just one example. For example, the corners 95b do not need to be rounded. In this case, the manufacturing of the opening adjustment member 95 becomes easier when forming the opening adjustment member 95 by bending sheet metal.

[0071] In Embodiment 1, the three heat exchanger fixing holes 85a, 185a, and hole 45a were aligned in a straight line, and the three heat exchanger fixing holes 85a were inclined at angles A1 and A2 with respect to the folded portion 83. However, this is just one example. The heat exchanger fixing holes 85a, 185a, and hole 45a only need to be configured to support the heat exchanger 40 with its longitudinal direction DL inclined at angles A1 and A2 with respect to the fourth surface 14. For this reason, the heat exchanger fixing holes 85a, 185a, and hole 45a do not need to be aligned in a straight line, and there do not need to be three of each.

[0072] In Embodiment 1, the blower chamber 10a and the heat exchanger chamber 10b were separated by a partition plate 10c, but this is just one example. For example, a configuration without a partition plate 10c may also be used.

[0073] [Configurations supported by the above embodiment] The above embodiment supports the following configuration:

[0074] (Note) (Technical 1) An indoor unit comprising a housing, a blower provided inside the housing, a heat exchanger provided at an angle, and a drain pan provided below the heat exchanger, wherein the angle of inclination of the heat exchanger is changed depending on whether the housing is in a vertical or horizontal position, and the angle between the bottom surface of the housing and the heat exchanger when the housing is in a horizontal position is greater than the angle between the bottom surface and the heat exchanger when the housing is in a vertical position. As a result, when the enclosure is placed horizontally, the heat exchanger is at an angle rising from the bottom, allowing for a compact placement of the heat exchanger within the enclosure without increasing its dimensions. Furthermore, when the enclosure is placed vertically, the heat exchanger is at an angle close to the bottom, allowing the condensate water generated on the heat exchanger to flow easily to the bottom of the heat exchanger without dripping along the way. Therefore, the indoor unit functions without problems whether the enclosure is placed vertically or horizontally. Consequently, the enclosure can be standardized between vertical and horizontal use.

[0075] (Technology 2) An indoor unit according to Technology 1, comprising a heat exchanger support portion for supporting the heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger support portion has a first member attached to the housing and a second member attached to the first member, and the first member is common to both when the housing is in the vertical position and when the housing is in the horizontal position, and the second member is changed. This allows the tilt angle of the heat exchanger to be changed simply by replacing the second component, without replacing the first component. Therefore, the first component, in addition to the housing, can be standardized between vertical and horizontal orientations.

[0076] (Technology 3) The indoor unit according to Technology 1 or 2, wherein the housing supports a circuit board when the housing is in the horizontal position and has an electrical box support plate located on a side adjacent to the bottom surface, and the drain pan drains water through a notch formed in the electrical box support plate that opens toward the bottom surface when the housing is in the vertical position. This allows drainage from the drain pan in the vertically mounted enclosure through a notch in the support plate for the electronics box that supports the circuit board when the enclosure is placed horizontally. Therefore, the support plate for the electronics box can be reused. In addition, since the notch opens towards the bottom, it becomes easier to insert and remove the drain pan into and out of the enclosure via the bottom. [Industrial applicability]

[0077] This disclosure is applicable to indoor units that can be installed in different orientations while sharing a common enclosure. Specifically, this disclosure is applicable to indoor units for home or commercial use, such as ceiling-mounted units, ducted units, and perimeter units. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0078] 1 Indoor unit 10 cabinets 10a Blower room 10b Heat exchanger room 10c partition plate 11 First side (front) 11a 1st outlet 11b Mounting frame 11c mounting hole 11d 1st board 11e Protrusion 12 2nd side (back) 12a First suction port 13 Page 3 13a 3rd board 13b Projection 14 4th side (bottom side) 14a Heat exchanger side plate 14c Second Inlet 15 Page 5 15a Piping support plate 15b Protrusion 15c Electrical box cover 15d aperture 15e groove 15f groove 16 Page 6 16a 6th board 16b Protrusion 17 Lid member 17a Notch 17b Notch 17c Notch 18 Closing plate 19 Metal fittings 20 Blower 21 Impeller 23 Casing 23a Discharge port 30 Drain pan 35 Drain 36 Drain pump support plate 37 Second drain 40 Heat exchanger 40a Lower part 40b upper part 41 Gas pipe connection 43 Liquid pipe connection 45 End 45a hole 50 Electrical box 51 circuit boards 53 Electrical box support plate 53a Notch 53b Support part 53c Folding section 53d Folded section 60 Heat exchanger support part 70 Base plate 71 1st fixed part 73 Second fixed part 75 Third fixed part 77 Support plate fixing part 77a aperture 77b Folded section 80 Heat exchanger support plate 81 Base plate fixing part 81a protrusion 83 Folding section 85 Heat exchanger fixing part 85a Heat exchanger fixing hole 90 Discharge chamber (discharge component) 91 connection ports 93 2nd outlet 95 Opening adjustment member 95a Top side 95b Corner 95c Blowout surface 130 Drain Pan 135 Drain 150 External electrical box 160 Heat exchanger support part 180 Heat exchanger support plate 185 Heat exchanger fixing part 185a Heat exchanger fixing hole D1 Intake duct (duct) D2 Outlet duct (duct) M Leg member M1 Leg intake port P decorative panel P1 Panel Intake P2 Panel Air Outlet S space

Claims

1. In an indoor unit comprising a housing, a blower installed inside the housing, a heat exchanger installed at an angle, and a drain pan installed below the heat exchanger, The tilt angle of the heat exchanger is changed depending on whether the housing is placed vertically or horizontally. When the housing is placed horizontally, the angle between the bottom surface of the housing and the heat exchanger is greater than the angle between the bottom surface and the heat exchanger when the housing is placed vertically. Indoor unit.

2. The heat exchanger is supported by a heat exchanger support section, The heat exchanger support portion comprises a first member attached to the housing and a second member attached to the first member. The first member is common to both the case where the housing is in the vertical position and the case where the housing is in the horizontal position, while the second member is modified. The indoor unit according to claim 1.

3. The housing supports the circuit board when the housing is in the horizontal position and has an electrical box support plate located on the side adjacent to the bottom surface. The drain pan drains water through a notch formed in the electrical box support plate that opens toward the bottom surface when the housing is in the vertical position. The indoor unit according to claim 1 or 2.

Images